Sometime around the Presbyter’s Retreat in Pawley’s Island there was a similar meeting of AMiA clergy in Little Rock where Bishop Murphy again presented the Mission Society proposal. Responses to the Murphy/Donlon/Kolini proposals were immediate, suggesting constant communication between American clergy and Rwanda. I cannot prove it, but I strongly suspect Bishop Laurent Mbanda was a key intermediary between anti-Murphy clergy and the Rwandan side.
On October 25th, the day of the Presbyter’s Retreat in South Carolina, retired Bishop John Rucyahana, who was one of the heroes of AMiA, wrote an open letter to Chuck Murphy, bringing the conflict into the light. The letter was picked up by Virtue Online, Anglican Ink, and layman.org among others. Bishop Rucyahana criticized Murphy’s “shallow assumptions” about the Rwandan church. He questioned why AMiA would be leaving Rwandan oversight at the same time that retired Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini had stepped down, implying that the two events were tied at the hip. He warned Bishop Murphy that involving Archbishop Moses Tay and retired Archbishop Yong Ping Chung would hurt their reputations. He said that “Taking Amia from it’s original intent and purposes (vision) may distort or derail it’s destiny.” His letter conveyed a familiarity with the presentation Murphy and Donlon had given in South Carolina.1
Six days later, Archbishop Rwaje wrote to Chuck Murphy. He emphasized that from the Rwandan side there was no desire “…to hurt the relationship with AMiA.” Rather, he said that “Our aim is to work as a team.” Rwaje had serious issues with the accusations Murphy was leveling against Rwanda, particularly calling his visit to Rwanda that June a “painful visit,” charging the Rwandans with reverse colonialism, assuming that Rwaje did not make decisions, and what he termed a “spirit of rebellion and lawlessness.” He concluded by “…requesting that all procedures toward the formation of the new missionary society be halted until we go through the Jerusalem moment.” He was referring to the Jerusalem Council in Acts, meaning he wanted Murphy and the Rwandan leadership to sit down and plan things out.2
- The letter: To Chuck Murphy
Chairman Council of Bishops
Dear Bishop Chuck,
It is with humility that I write this letter to you, having heard that you are thinking /planning the formation of a missionary society. This comes at a very wrong timing when the province of the Anglican church of Rwanda’s leadership is changing. It is the time when Archbishop Kolini has just retired and Arch Bishop Rwaje has just taken over the leadership of the Province.
It so appears that the reasons of transforming Amia into a missionary society that is independent from Rwanda is based on shallow assumptions like:
a) The new house of Bishops in Rwanda runs against Amia which is not true. The new house of Bishops expressed a need to establish transparent strategic processes and policies in the Province of Rwanda and in relationship with Amia, but the house and the Province in general are so committed to Amia.
b) The second assumption is based on the feeling that the new Archbishop does not take decisions like the former and this is not true either. Archbishop Rwaje has a transparent policy to consult with the house of Bishops and the church councils on the issues pertaining to church management and institutional business. Unlike the former Archbishop who took decisions without consulting the house of Bishops and church councils and did not even inform them of what he has/had done on their behalf as church leaders.
I feel obliged to share my concerns:
1) Taking Amia from it’s original intent and purposes (vision) may distort or derail it’s destiny.
2) This move may hurt the relationship of Amia with the Province of Rwanda which stood alone in the whole world for Amia in the most difficult times.
It may be extremely hard to comprehend for the retired Archbishop Kolini who led Amia as a mission of Rwanda and now moves with Amia out of the Province during his retirement. I would implore you to reconsider this move, but if you so choose to do it or be in consultation with the Province of Rwanda. It would be very sad to start with a wave of the Holy Spirit and end up with a human agenda. I therefore request you very kindly to be considerate on the retired Archbishop Moses Tay and retired Archbishop Yong both of whom God used to assist and bless Amia at it’s formation. Please do not use them when you are taking this move, lest you hurt their reputation. Be aware that the whole world is going to have an interpretation of this move and this may cause a strong wave which may throw some of the people overboard. Finally I would request you to slow down and make consultations with the Province of Rwanda and other friendly institutions before you take an important move like this. It is out of a deep groan of my heart and love that I have for Amia that I say this.
May the Lord bless you
Bishop Emeritus of Shyira Diocese
(Retired) Bishop John Rucyahana
↩︎ - The letter: LA PROVINCE DE L’EGLISE ANGLICANE AU RWANDA (PEAR)
31st October 2011
Re: Strengthening our working relationships
Dear Bishop Chuck:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
As you have by now observed from a recent open letter from Bishop Emeritus John Rucyahana and an e-mail from Moses Tay to Bishop John, some serious issues are emerging that raise concerns on the causes of the birth of the new missionary society and our working relationships. Our meetings in Kigali recently (House of Bishops, Provincial Council and the Provincial Synod) were so encouraging and had given hope of an envisioned positive working relationships.
Let us look at these issues of concerns in the following categories:
Administratively:
Since the Change of leadership in our province and in your presentation at the February 2011 Winter Conference a new chapter in working relationship was acknowledged. Administratively, the Province of Rwanda has been praying and wanting to establish proper principles and procedures to guide our working relationships. The storming that happened in June was acknowledged by all of us as a new beginning with realization of a new house. The House of Bishops of Rwanda is very much open and supportive of continuing a relationship with AMiA. Never at anytime did the House of Bishops conceive any possibility to hurt the relationship with AMiA. That working relationship remains our cherished goal. Our aim is to work as a team. After analysing the context in which our Province has been operating, as a House of Bishops we have come to a conclusion that there is a need for teamwork, as well as administrative and managerial principles.
Changing AMiA into a Missionary Society:
As you shared with us in our September 27 House of Bishops, the Missionary Society was a new concept that was still a confidential matter in the process of conception. The agreement was that we would have a joint design group to prepare a presentation to the December 21 House of Bishops. I am wondering if the meeting in Washington DC is still needed given the fact that you have already introduced the matter to the AMiA Council of Bishops and more recently to the clergy according to what we hear here? The same concern arises for the purpose for the after Winter conference meeting with our Bishops and the AMiA Council of Bishops. I suggest this meeting to be a Jerusalem moment (Acts 15:1-12) to air out our difference and discuss way forward. Among other items to be discussed, I suggest that the Washington DC meeting be used to prepare for the suggested meeting after Winter Conference in Houston.
Accusations:
There are serious accusations to the House of Bishops that need to be ironed out before moving forward.
A. The interpretation of what is expressed as the painful visit with the House of Bishops in june.
B. The reverse colonialism.
C. The spirit of rebellion and lawlessness.
D. The assumption that the new Archbishop does not make decisions.
Given all this, dear Bishop Chuck, I am requesting that all procedures toward the formation of the new missionary society be halted until we go through the Jerusalem moment. This will help us understand and assess the need of a new missionary society and thus build it on strategies and not on reactions.
In conclusion, may I request the saints for prayers addressing the clarity in our working relationships both within AMiA and the Province of Rwanda.
Yours in Christ service;
The Most Rev. Onesphore RWAJE, Archbishop of the PEAR ↩︎
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